An app a day can help bad habits go away

Our smart phones go everywhere with us these days. So why not put them to work to help us feel better, get in shape, eat healthier – even get a good night’s sleep?

The following were among 39 apps selected by Greatist.com as this year’s top health and fitness apps. Visit the site to see the methodology used to make the selections. Better yet, check out these apps and see if they can help dissolve solve some of your own barriers to shaping up and feeling better.

Couch to 5KIf you’ve wanted to try running but didn’t know where to start, Couch to 5K should be the next app you download. This free eight-week program gives users three workouts per week that get you ready for your local fun run or road race. (Free; iOS and Android)

Daily Yoga

Never be bored by yoga again: More than 50 classes shot in HD video are just a few taps away. Each sequence has a specific focus, from increasing flexibility to strengthening your core. Plus, there’s a library with detailed videos of more than 500 poses. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android)

HealthTap

Next time you have a pressing medical concern (should I be worried about this rash?), don’t ask Dr. Google. Turn to HealthTap instead. The app sends your question to its network of doctors, and one will answer you within a few hours. HealthTap also comes with a library of information on common ailments, so you can be better at spotting symptoms and picking the best remedy. If you’re looking for even more care, choose the prime membership ($99 per month), which allows you unlimited video and text chatting with doctors. (Free with in-app purchases; iOS and Android)

Ingredient1

If you have dietary restrictions, you know how much of a pain it can be to check the ingredients on every label at the grocery store. That’s where Ingredient1’s FoodID comes in handy. Answer a series of questions about your typical diet (from foods that are absolute no-nos to things you’d rather avoid), and Ingredient1 introduces you to hundreds of products that fit your criteria. Plus it finds stores nearby where you can buy them. (Free; iOS)

LifesumHave a sweet tooth or a love of junk food? It can feel like you need a whole lifestyle makeover to start eating healthy. But Lifesum proves it’s all about small, sustainable changes. Pick a goal (lose weight, bulk up, or eat better) and the app sends you reminders (drink more water), feedback to improve your diet, and simple graphics to visualize your progress. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOSand Android)

MyFitnessPal

The most popular health and fitness app in the world, this app’s database of more than 6 million foods makes it easy to track your diet, no matter what you eat. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or put on muscle, the app helps determine the best things to eat to meet your goals. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android)

Power Nap AppThe Power Nap App helps you to catch a few z’s during the day, with a timer (that only goes up to 30 minutes), pleasant sounds to help you sleep, and an alarm that gently wakes you back up, so you can rock the rest of your day. (Free; iOS)

ShopWellThe field of calorie-counting apps is heavily saturated, but ShopWell still manages to stand out. The app is all about personalization. Enter in your height, weight, age, and allergies, and then it scores every food you can think of on how healthy it is for you—the closer to 100, the better. And it even makes individual recommendations for similar, healthier products to eat instead. (Free; iOS and Android)

Sleep CycleSay sayonara to feeling groggy in the morning. This app measures your sleep cycle, as its name suggests. Then it wakes you sometime during a 30-minute window before your alarm when you’re in the lightest sleep state. Sure, you might get up before your alarm goes off, but you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. (Free with in-app purchases on iOS, $0.99 on Android)

Start If you’re suffering from depression, it can take months to find the right medicine (or drug cocktail) that works for you. Start aims to make that process a whole lot easier. The app includes a depression test, as well as programs to track your progress and the side effects of your medication – all helpful information to share with the medical professional treating you. (Free: iOS)